The FAYZ Trials Chapter 7
Astrid was sitting in the gallery watching as Sam re-entered the room. The jury had reached their verdict and Astrid prayed – yes actually prayed – that Sam was found innocent. It was a farce that he was on trial in the first place, but to find him guilty would be an utter injustice. It was bad enough that he was going to have to have a re-trial for the Mineshaft Incident, Sam didn't need more stress.
Then, Freddy Wishman strolled through the door. Astrid had a desire to boo him like some pantomime villain but she managed to restrain herself. He was followed shortly by Karim Smith, Sam's lawyer who looked red in the face. He was followed by the judge and the court stood to attention. Down below Sam looked up towards her and gave her a small smile, Astrid felt tears in her eyes. There he was standing there all alone in his smart suit trying to look brave and strong but Astrid knew that deep down Sam was afraid – very afraid.
"Mister Temple you have been brought before this court in order to find you either guilty or not guilty of the crimes you committed on the night of the Thanksgiving Massacre," the judge spoke loudly and slowly "these crimes include leading young children into a dangerous and fatal fight, bargaining with the lives of young children in the hope that you and your friends would win said fight and causing grievous bodily harm to name but a few – you and the court know the extensive list as do the jury and when I ask them for their verdict it will either clear you or convict you of all crimes with no exceptions either way, do you understand?"
"Yes your Honour," Sam replied.
"And how do you plead?"
"Not guilty." Sam said. His voice caught a little, Astrid knew why. It was because deep down they both knew that he was guilty, after all Sam did fight Caine that night, he did take risks with the little ones over at the day care but none of it was with intent or malice, Astrid only hoped that the jury understood this too.
The judge turned to the jury and the speaker stood up. Astrid tried to read the man's expression but he kept his emotions well-hidden.
"Mister Temple pleads innocent," the judge said "does the jury find him to be guilty or not guilty?"
The speaker took a breath...
Freddy watched as the juror opened his mouth to reveal the good news. In his own hand was his parker pen, he twirled it between his fingers casually, calmly – cool and collected.
Karim watched as Freddy sat there all smug and superior, twirling his pen around without a care in the world. His arrogance made Karim want to punch him, instead of course, he sat still and silently watching as the juror took his breath.
Astrid waited with baited breath for the results, down below she saw Karim Smith stiffen in his chair. Was this a bad sign? Did he know something already? No surely not, he would be finding out the same time as the rest of the world.
Sam had to bunch his crossed fingers into his trouser pockets so that nobody would see. The juror was standing and the room silent. He quickly shot a glance up at Astrid hoping for that little bit of reassurance but she was looking away, down at the lawyers. Sam stole a second look but her gaze was still firmly averted from his. Sam felt a little worse.
Diana barked at the other idiot girls to shut up. She turned the volume up and held her breath, this case was as important to her as Caine's. If Sam was found innocent then Caine might stand a chance, if he was found guilty then Caine had no hope at all. The cameras were focussing on Sam, Diana saw him look up and smile into the gallery towards where Astrid had been spotted sitting, and Diana knew from the look on Sam's face, Astrid hadn't returned the smile.
Caine was watching the results from the small TV in the court cafeteria, his guard was also mesmerised by the case and had turned the volume up despite the fact that if they'd stayed in the corridor outside the courtroom they would have probably heard the results just as well. He wished he could be watching this with Diana, especially knowing that he would be standing right where Sam was in less than half an hour. She would give him some hope – even if it was in the shape of a sarcastic comment – anything to make him feel a bit better about himself.
Stuart Bovine the speaker of the jury felt very aware of the hundreds of pairs of eyes looking right at him, but he didn't care, he was a head teacher, he was used to people staring at him when he was about to speak. He saw the judge, the lawyers, the kid Sam Temple and took a slow and steady breath:
"Not guilty!" he declared.